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Christmas

From present ideas to party food, find all your Christmas inspiration here.

Original poster

What have you got for the men in your life?

80 replies

CakeNinja · 14/12/2018 19:32

Rather stuck for dp.
He is outrageously impossible to buy for.
Only likes one brand of clothing, has a couple of nice watches and coats etc.
Previous presents which have gone down well include Bose speaker, coffee machine,
Timberlands, espresso mugs, can’t remember what else.
Little gadgety things would sit in a drawer gathering dust. “Experience” type vouchers tend to expire. We go away for weekends and the like frequently. We have Spotify and Netflix and whatever else for films and music. He doesn’t wear headphones (thought about getting him some for the gym but he hates wearing them so pointless). He doesn’t read.
Booze is an option but boring.
His interests are food/cooking (we have every kitchen gadget I can think of and eat at nice restaurants already so things like voucher for a nice meal out a bit pointless), football, beer, walks with the family, films...
I’m at a complete loss.
I know he would be genuinely fine with nothing and in the spirit of wanting to be nice to the planet I don’t want to buy tat nor would it be welcome.
Things like socks and smellies we just buy as and when we need so not really a present as such.
Absolutely any advice would be welcome, or even just let me know what the men in your life are receiving so I can see if there is anything I hadn’t considered!
Thank you Smile

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GreenKangaroo · 14/12/2018 19:55

Not all booze is boring, what type does he like to drink?

BarbedBloom · 14/12/2018 19:56

My husband has PlayStation VR and a few games, wireless Bluetooth headphones, a Bluetooth shower speaker, Japanese kit kats in weird flavours, clothes, and I got him a lovebook after seeing one recommended on here (cute not sleazy as it sounds)

Brother has a watercolour painting of his two boys in a frame, a movie night in box with snacks and popcorn and one of the cheaper version of the fit bit.

My stepdad has a book and a monogrammed leather wash bag as he travels a lot

Friend has some concert tickets

BarbedBloom · 14/12/2018 19:58

If he likes booze, would he appreciate something like new glasses or whisky rocks etc? What about one of those food subscription boxes on notonthehighstreet. Think they have curry ones etc?

Fstar · 14/12/2018 20:00

Got my my partner ipad pro, meant to be really good and it was time for an upgrade. Id also recommend iwatch and airpods, i didnt think i would want them but actually they are bloody brilliant.

What about professional cooking classes?
Some gadgets for kitchen?

Frosty66611 · 14/12/2018 20:03

Could you get him a subscription for one of the posh companies that send you out the ingredients for a fancy meal and you cook it together at home? Or a monthly gin/whiskey subscription box that gets delivered with different varieties each time?

Atalune · 14/12/2018 20:06

Soda stream
Walking socks
Cashmere jumper
Wooden Amish style star for his office
Slippers

Fairly pedestrian but I know he will like it.

YahBasic · 14/12/2018 20:07

DH:
Ancestry DNA kit, new work shoes, some clothes, baking books, 3x books, electric toothbrush.

Previous gifts that went down well:
Sports bag/boot bag for his hobby, watch box for his multiple watches, Kitchenaid, flavour injector (basically a kitchen syringe!), Weber bbq & heavy duty bbq gloves, leather bag for work laptop, Nokia fitness tracker (looks like an actual watch rather than a Fitbit), wooden cookbook stand

Dad:
Philips Hue lightbulbs to go with his Amazon Echo.

Michael Calvin does great football books, I’d get some nice craft beers and maybe a watch box if he has nothing similar? Then socks/pants/PJs or loungewear, toiletries and some chocolate/snacks.

AnnaMagnani · 14/12/2018 20:12

DH and I have now given up and write each other lists. We genuinely are impossible to buy for.

His list was obscure computing book and boxset of DVDs of dead Japanese film director (yes we are antiquated). Equally my list was socks but bamboo ones from specific company, cookery books but I knew which ones and he wouldn't have a clue.

Never in a thousand years would I have come up with either of his choices and he'll enjoy them more than my guesses. I strongly recommend just asking.

mumonashoestring · 14/12/2018 20:14

I've got DH a subscription to monthly tee club - you give them some ideas about preferences and they send you a t shirt every month. I've also got him a fountain pen and a card game.

Has he already got a really good thermal mug so that he can take his nice coffee with him? Some quality leather gloves for winter?

codenameduchess · 14/12/2018 20:20

Would he like a home brewery kit or something? Sort of mixing cooking/kitchen with beer? Or a hello fresh subscription?

My dh is the same, he buys whatever he wants all year (other than socks and pants, they are strictly Christmas gifts my mum buys him every year.... the state of the ones he's wearing now is bad 😂).

I've bought him a couple of nerdy T-shirt's, a photo desk calendar, a lynx man scrubber set, a box full of his favourite snacky bits, nice vodka and a daft 'be more vader' book.

Original poster
CakeNinja · 14/12/2018 20:22

Some really good thoughtful presents here, lucky recipients!
He likes brandy and rum, not spiced or flavoured. Also gin. We have an extensive collection of all.
He has a watchbox for his watches, so it’s a good idea for other people who are into watches.
Don’t think ingredients subscriptions are going to be for him, he enjoys finding new recipes and trawling for unusual ingredients, prefers to grind his own spices and make his own concoctions - he thinks it’s part of the fun Confused
An electric toothbrush is a possibility... not particularly exciting but he doesn’t have one.
I have asked him - he said he just wants his family around him on Christmas Day. Bloody useless sap Grin

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Original poster
CakeNinja · 14/12/2018 20:24

Oh, a new travel mug is a good idea. I don’t know what he did with his last one but he takes a mug of tea with him to work every morning! Ridiculous Grin
Although thinking about it now, I remember it’s because tea just doesn’t taste the same out of a plastic cup 🤦🏽‍♀️

OP posts:
Original poster
CakeNinja · 14/12/2018 20:25

Sorry, that’s should say “he said tea doesn’t taste the same...”

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goose1964 · 14/12/2018 20:25

DH cricket membership, DF ugears perpetual calendar, DSiL sweet FA until he tells us what he wants

Stumpted88 · 14/12/2018 20:27

One of these, it uses nespresso pods, but only needs hot water (he loves our nespresso machine). He can use it at work/whilst we are on holiday etc

What have you got for the men in your life?
Stumpted88 · 14/12/2018 20:29

Just seen he drinks tea 😬

mumonashoestring · 14/12/2018 20:29

Bit late now but how about booking a photography session next year and getting him some lovely framed pics of his family?

And he's not wrong about plastic tainting and ruining tea, but the stainless steel Thermos mugs might be worth a go - they don't absorb/transfer flavours and they stay hot for hours.

YahBasic · 14/12/2018 20:32

You can get ceramic travel mugs if that would make a difference to the flavour for him Grin

LtJudyHopps · 14/12/2018 20:34

I know you said no experiences but what about a cooking lesson/experience for the two of you?

GrowThroughWhatYouGoThrough · 14/12/2018 20:37

4 new tyres (he's building a kit car) a dremel ,back scratcher and rum 😂

Catanddogmake6 · 14/12/2018 20:38

How about a weekend away based round food? There are the usual suspects River Cottage/ Steins in Padstow or if just eating le manoir in Oxford. However there will be loads and loads of others. I would also look at a ceramic mug. They leak more than some of the plastic ones but better than a normal mug.

Catanddogmake6 · 14/12/2018 20:39

Sorry meant to be clearer some restaurants do cooking classes as well as dining.

FedUpWithBriiiiiick · 14/12/2018 20:42

Beastie Boys LP
Book about grunge
Ghostbusters visual encyclopaedia thing

I know he's got me more. I have the twitch.

Original poster
CakeNinja · 14/12/2018 20:42

He’s had a couple of those cooking with a celeb and cooking masterclass things bought for him before and he just hasn’t used them.
He also prefers natural non staged photos of the kids around the house (as do I to be honest), studio and photographer shots are just a bit impersonal if you know what I mean. We both just prefer pictures we take. I have some good cameras that take good sharp photographs already.
He really is just bloody hard to buy for!!
The travel mug I bought him before was a stainless steel one but the lid was plastic. I’ll look into some alternatives.
He does have a coffee machine but only really drinks an espresso after a big dinner or on a Sunday morning. Not really standard coffees. Although guests make full use of the machine because otherwise it would only be used once or twice a week Grin
Thank you all for either sharing what you’ve bought or suggesting things. I really am reading them all but he’s a man with few wants or needs in life.
We aren’t rich but tend to save up and buy the best we can afford of whatever it is we want or need so when it comes to present buying it’s tough!
I’m easier to buy for by far Grin

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